Method of fireproofing timber.



1-06. comPosi T ieflkg 1 1 1 i b f comma on msnc Cross Reference e e. B. SHIRLEY.

METHOD OF FIREPBOOFING TIMBER.

. 7 .APPLICATION FILED 41.5.1915. v

1,163,271. Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

nary conditions.

-which involves expense,

GRANT SHIPLEY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

mn'rnon or rrnnrnoorms :rmsnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

OFFICE.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed April 5, 1915. Serial No. 19,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, GRANT B. Smrmr,

a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and state of Pennsylvania, have 5 invented a new and useful Improv'ementm Methods of Fireproofing Timber, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to a method of fireproofing timber, lates to the treatment of shingles and building timber, with an antiseptic for the preservation of the timber and with a fireproofing substance, the treatment with the two substances preferably being simultaneous.

.The main object, of the invention is to provide a method for treating shingles and other -timbers, whereby cementitious and silicious material is forced. into the pores of the wood to be treated, thereby effectually fireproofing the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method wherein this fireproofing treatment is carried out simultaneously with the treatment of the wood with apreservative so that by a single process the wood can .be protected against rotting as well as against danger from fire.

The cementitious material forced into the wood not only acts as an efiicient fireproofing, but when a preserving solution is forced into the wood either previously to or simultaneously with the application of the cementitious material, it will prevent leaching out or evaporation of the preserving solution, and will in itself greatly strengthen the timber which has been treated. The fireproofing treatment will also to a great extent prevent expansion and contraction of timbers to which it has been applied.

'It is of great importance both owing to tions of safety that wood used as building material be effectually fireproofed, and that the fireproofing process used be sufficiently cheap to allow its application under all ordi- Methods of fireproofing wood as heretofore employed have been .either only slightly effectual orof a nature and are often-not applicable to wood as used in general build mg.

sand to the wood to be fireproofed by means and more particularly re-' t'iv or pulverized fire regulations and from general considera I One method heretofore used has been the application of a mixture of cement andcoating sufficient to thoroughly fireproof the wood is applied by this means the resulting timbers are made heavy and hard to handle.

I By n eans of the present method a quantity of cementi'tious material either alone or together with a, preservative solution is forced into the cellular structure of timber being treated and forms an impermeable protective layer which lies chiefly within the body of the wood and thoroughly fireproofs the same. This coating material is applied under pressure to secure the desired result, and the wood is preferably treated at the same time with a preserving solution. In this case the preserving material being in solution will be forced a considerable distance into thewood, while the cementitious material will be forced a lesser distance into its cellular structure.

The preferred materials used in this method consist of zinc chlorid as a preserva' and a mixture 0 v cement together wit sand or some suitable infusorial earth, such as 'kieselguhr all 30 ground to an impalpable powder. It has been found that the proportion of material giving the best results are about one half pound of dry zinc chlorid for each cubic foot of timber to be treated, and cement and as sand or infusorial earth to the amount desired, the proportion of the latter being one part of cement to from four to six parts of sand or infusorial earth.

. The method may be carried out by vari- 9o ous forms of apparatus, and the accompanying drawing shows merely diagrammatically a single form or arrangement of apparatus by means of which the method may be carried out. The apparatus may be of any design, but as illustrated comprises 2. suitable treating cylinder shown at 1, in which the timber is treated; a storage tank 2 in which the zinc chlorid solution is mixed with the cementitious material; a pressure pump 3; suitable connections between the same comprising pipe 4 leading from the storage tank to the treating cylinder; plpe 5 between the pressure pump and storage tank; and suitable means mixture in the treating cylinder.

In carrying out the method, wood which, has been properly seasoned is placed in the treating cylinder which is then sealed. The

treating bath is formed by introducing into 1 10 the storage tank either a solution of Z1110 chlorid and adding cement and pulverized for agitating the extent into the pores of the wood, and if a 06. COM OSITIONS,

- COATING OR PLAS'HG sand or infusorial earth thereto, or by dissolving the zinc chlorid and mixing with the solid material at' a single step. The bath may be Stirred to cause the solid mate- 6 rials to be suspended therein and is then passed by gravity or by the pressure of pump 3 into the treating cylinder. When the treating cylinder 1 has been charged with the wood and the treating and fireproofing bath, pressure up to about 200 pounds is applied by means of pump 3. Both the preserving solution and the cementitious material together with its body of sand or infusorial earth will be forcedinto the cells of 'the wood. The zinc chlorid, however, being in solution will pass first into the wood and will penetrate farther therein than the solid material, in the case of shingles and light boards completely saturating the wood.

The cement and other solid material is forced only a short distance into the wood, but completely fills the pores thereof to the limit of its penetration, leaving merely a light coating upon the surface of the wood.

Since the cement and sand or infusorial earth do not remain evenly distributed throughout the body of the liquid, under ordinary conditions, it is necessary to provide means to cause a continuous agitation so of the bath in order that these particles may be held in even suspension througlrthe bath during the process of forcing them into the cellular structure of the wood being treated. This may be accomplished by any suitable 86 means but as shown in the drawin is by means of a circulating system. In this system a pipe 6 leads from a plurality of openings 7 in the top of the treatin cylinder to a centrifugal pump 8 connected b conduit 9 with a perforated pipe 10 in the ottom of the treating cylinder and extending entirely therealong. By this means fluid is continuouslywithdrawn during the treating process from the top of the treating cylinder and is forced by the pump into the c linder through the perforated pipe 10 so t at the liquid is continuously agitated throughout the length of the cylinder, thereby keeping the particles properly mixed and m suspen sion during treatment of the wood.

Preferably, the storage tank 2 is elevated above the treating cylinder 1 so that the treating mixture will flow by gravit into the treating cylinder. Suitable sca ea 11 58 upon which the storage tank 2 rests are also provided so that the quantity of mixture absorbed during treatment can be easily determined. While in the drawing only a single treating cylinder is shown as supplied 60 from the storage tank, it is obvious that any desired number of such cylinders can be connected to a single storage tank by a suitable system of piping.

Since the fireproo ng as applied by this .method penetrates the pores of the wood, it

Cross Reference cannot be impaired by chipping or by the entrance of water into the protective coating. It prevents splitting and checkin of the timber, and also prevents warping,w 'ch is of particular importance when it is applied to shingles.

The most important use of the fireproofing method described is in the fireproof ing of shingles since they are most greatly su jected to fire dangers. It is also, however, applicable tobuilding timbers in general, and may be advantageously used for the treatment of paving blocks and cross ties where its hardening and strengthening qualities, and its effect in preventing expansion and contraction of the wood, are of particular advantage..;: Piles upon treatment with cement by this method are protected against splitting during the operation of driving, and are protected from attack by insects or marine borers.

The method described is economical, since only so much fireproofing material is reuired as will effectually close the pores of t e timber treated, and a heavy deposit of the material is not permitted to form upon Examine the surface of the wood. The wood is also much lighter than if a heavy layer of cement were applied thereto externally.

It is to be understood that the method is not limited to the simultaneous treatment of timbers with preservatives and fireproofing substances, but that methods comprising merely a fireproofing treatment, or successive treatments first with a preservative and then with a fireproofing material, are within the scope'of the claims hereto appended.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The process of treating wood consisting in forcing cementitious material into the pores thereof;

2. The process of treating wood consisting in forcing into the pores thereof-a preserving solution and cementitious material.

- 3. The process of treating wood consisting in simultaneously forcing a preserving solution and cementitious material into the pores thereof.

4. The process of treating wood consisting in subjecting the same to a bath containing cementitious material in suspension under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and agitating the bath during treatment of the wood.

5. The process of treating wood consisting in subjecting the same to a bath containing cementitious material and pulverized silicious material in suspension undera pressure higher than atmos heric pressure, and agitating the bath uring the treatment to maintain the cementitious and silicious materials in suspension.

6. The process of treating wood consisting in subjecting the same to a bath containing cementitious material and pulverized infu- 8. The process of treating wood, consistmg in subjecting the same to a bath contaming zinc chlorid in solution and cementi- 15 ti'ous material in suspension under a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, and agitating the bath during treatment of the woo In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 20 my hand.

GRANT B. SHIPLEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM B. WHARTON, GLENN H. Lmmscnn. 

